Task force swings into action

A Rural Communities Coronavirus Task Force, organized by Patrick Washington of the Lamar area, is putting its efforts behind prevention of the spread of COVID-19 throughout several counties.

Local leadership in the counties of Marshall, Tippah, Pontotoc, Lee, DeSoto and Union are being sought to participate in this grassroots effort to help stamp out the Coronavirus before it takes root in the immediate areas.

The purpose of the group is to establish a collaborative effort to prevent the spread of the virus through rural communities, he said. Rural people think the virus is spreading in places like New York City, San Francisco and Atlanta, but not here, he said.

In a group telephone conference Thursday morning, organized to start the dialog and to organize, Washington expressed appreciation to all healthcare providers for what they are doing for rural communities. He said rural communities do not have the healthcare infrastructure to control the spread of an outbreak.

At the beginning of the meeting he offered a prayer of thanks for technology that is launching communities out into uncharted territories.

"We know You (God) are the source of all wisdom," he prayed. "Lift up our healthcare providers, the world, everyone who is leading at this time."

Washington said many rural communities are at the bottom tier when it comes to healthcare.

"One person can infect many," he said.

Nancy Boatwright, nurse practitioner with Alliance HealthCare System, thanked the group for the opportunity, saying "this is an amazing step to help healthcare workers and to allow us to be a part of this. Prevention is the key."

Providers are concerned about patients with chronic conditions.

"The Coronavirus puts us behind the eight-ball," she said.

Providers want to make sure they remain healthy overall.

Some concerns she listed included that patients with chronic conditions may run out of medicines. They should call their providers for refill prescriptions, Boatwright said.

Second, this is a very virulent virus, living on surfaces a long time. We've already been home two weeks (stay at home order). Don't let your guard down. We're pushing this stay-at-home order."

Boatwright said young people can carry the virus home to their elderly family members. Use of social distancing, hand washing, wearing of gloves, is a big part of the prevention of the spread of the virus, she said. Also, taking multi-vitamins with zinc can help keep the immunity up.

Boatwright listed the prominent symptoms as fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, shortness of breath and cough.

Alliance HealthCare System is screening people who may feel sick and want a drivethru check at the front entrance to the hospital between the hours of 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"You do not have to be a Williams Clinic patient to get screening," she said. "You do not have to call. We are screening for symptoms."

The emergency room can test for the virus around the clock, she said.

Washington said, "This is a life and death situation. We encourage you to live as if you already have it."

The Rural Communities Coronavirus Task Force is working on two approaches ­ prevention and mitigation and provisions to dampen the financial impact to assure people have what they need.

Under prevention and mitigation, there are several steps:

· The task force has to combat the mindset of it won't happen here. Only essential travel and business should be conducted.

"We need voices of influence to encourage social distancing, he said.

· Use platforms to stay connected with others. Remind is one application that can be used as a social platform, Facebook can be used, Zoom, and other free group services are available to stay in touch with your group.

Washington urged everyone combating the spread of the virus who has any influence in the community to use these platforms. For example, some people are having large parties where the virus can be spread.

"Tell everyone not to have parties," he said.

Holly Springs Mayor Kelvin Buck said law enforcement will patrol the community and break up yard parties or large cookouts.

"We are going to be a community to watch to discourage parties ­ to control who you let in your house," Washington said.

Some grocery stores are being asked to give the first hour open each day to seniors for shopping.

"We want to encourage curbside service to senior citizens to shop," he said.

The task force is seeking college students who want to serve as volunteers, six per grocery store, to help seniors to shop curbside. Seniors should provide a

shopping list and the volunteers will take their orders inside and bring their order back out, he said.

The task force will work with store managers to try to implement this service for seniors under limited contact.

Washington said pharmacies also would appreciate patrons to get all their meds at one time rather than going to the store each week to pick up prescriptions one at a time.

Another initiative the task force wants to implement is to get volunteer seamstresses to make up face masks for the most vulnerable. The task force will make these masks available to the public.

Cotton masks can have a 3M air-filter sewn in between the inner and outer fabric layers to improve protection.

Under the second step provisions, Washington said some foreign students are stranded here without financial support. They are not eligible sometimes for unemployment. The task force is asking for participating groceries to prepare pre-packed grocery bags with non-perishable food. Vouchers will be given out to those who are eligible such as college students and people who have been laid off, if they have a food need. The community is being asked to donate $10 for each bag to their grocery manager to fill this need.

“We will have to have a level of trust with the store manager,” Washington said.

Churches, non-profits and individuals will be asked to donate funds.

Buck said the city is encouraging people to wear face masks.

Renee Hunt, with Tippah County, said that county is setting up a test center at the fairgrounds. Leaders there are asking people to make one trip to the store per week instead of many trips to get what they need.

“Let’s abide by the rules,” she said. “We have everything – FaceTime, Facebook – to do this. And let’s encourage healthcare workers to encourage people to stay at home.”

Washington encouraged the task force.

“We are operating on faith and we are obedient and we have the moral responsibility to operate without fear,” he said. “We want to be examples of all we have been teaching. We have the opportunity to serve.”

To volunteer or to seek further information on this initiative, contact Washington at 662-540-5775 and by email at ruralcovid19@gmail.com. Also like Rural Communities Task Force on Facebook.

Washington said he wants this initiative in place by no later than the weekend of April 10.

The next meeting is April 9 at 9 a.m.